Chapter 7
The popcorn’s buttery aroma scented the living room, tempting Claire to reach for another handful from the bowl nestled between her and Irina. Irina’s laughter danced through the air.
“So there you have it.” Irina rolled her eyes. “Thus, ends yet another disastrous date!”
Claire grinned. “Girl, I’d say we have a knack for attracting the wrong people.”
The amber-shaded floor lamp cast a warm glow, just enough light to see Irina sifting through a DVD stack. Their Friday-night ritual offered the best distraction after yet another turn of events upended Claire’s life just hours before.
“We ended it after he said he wasn’t coming back to Pleasant View for two years.” Irina’s voice floated back. The DVDs clattered as she pushed them aside, projecting casualness.
“That’s the risk of falling for tourists.” Claire picked at a piece of popcorn. “Fleeting romances and goodbyes that come too soon.”
“Not many our age stick around town after college.” Irina put in a DVD and glanced over her shoulder.
The statement hung there, an unspoken reference to Wade, one of the few who had stuck around when his TV show aired early in his career.
Until it ended and he landed a big film role and left.
Now he spent more time in LA than here. Funny enough, he was now her fiancé. Sort of.
“Can’t we watch something else girlie?” Irina flopped onto the sofa, and silenced the movie trailer ads already playing. “You seriously gonna make me watch another Wade movie?”
Albert’s outdated entertainment setup had its perks.
It gave Claire an excuse to dig into her beloved DVD collection.
She owned all thirty-three of his movies, plus every season of Peak Protector.
The spines of the cases lined her shelf like trophies, a piece of Wade’s career she’d clung to.
And it didn’t stop there. The movies he directed? She had those too.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Irina’s laugh faded before her expression firmed. “The virtual call—how did it go?”
“Interesting.” Claire tucked her feet under herself on the sofa.
Bella’s breathing hummed through the baby monitor, blending with the steady rhythm of Dad’s snores from the next room.
Both sounds made her crave her bed. “It’s…
” Even after mulling it over these last hours, she couldn’t explain the surreal shift.
All she knew was she wanted Wade to like her, without condition. Not fake it.
Irina nudged the popcorn bowl closer to Claire and curled her legs beneath her, mirroring Claire’s posture. “Tell me the attorney assured you there’s no case.”
“Wade’s PA.” Manager? Assistant? Claire wasn’t even sure what to call her. “She sent me photos of wedding rings.” Her shoulders sagged. Maybe she should be grateful to have Wade in her life, even if it wasn’t the way she’d hoped.
“I’m sorry, what?” Irina’s voice jumped an octave, her light-brown eyes widening. For someone so petite, she packed a lot of energy. “Did I miss something?”
“We’re getting married.” There. Claire’d said it.
“You’re what?” Irina’s ponytail swished as she shook her head, gawking at Claire. “To who?”
“Wade.”
Irina’s shoulders shook. She leaned back, laughter bubbling out, then slapped Claire’s shoulder. “Why do you sound like that’s a bad thing? You’ve had a crush on him—been in love with him long before you and I even became friends.”
“He always gave me his full attention when I spoke.” Claire fumbled for logical reasons to justify her long-standing crush.
“He never complained when I hung around with him and Albert while they watched movies or played video games.” He’d casually drape his arm over her shoulder.
Even the memory wrapped her in unexpected warmth.
Just like during those summer concerts when he’d handed her his flannel if she was cold.
“I can’t even count how many times he drove me to craft shows before I could drive myself. He’d stay to help set up my booth when neither my parents nor Albert could take me.” He’d always seemed interested in what she wanted to do after high school.
But that didn’t mean he saw her as anything more than Albert’s little sister. Her voice dipped. “You know how Wade feels about me.”
“Whatever you overheard him tell your brother years ago—”
“He still danced with me at the wedding, and yes, we had a moment.” Such a bittersweet memory.
That one and only time, Wade looked at her as more than his friend’s little sister.
But nothing had come of it—he’d meant it during her graduation when he’d said they’d never be anything more than friends.
She’d even overheard him confirm it to her brother.
“Of all people, Claire is the last person I’d want to hurt by misleading. ”
“He must’ve changed his mind if you’re talking marriage,” Irina mused. “So, do tell! How’d a simple virtual call with an attorney lead to wedding rings?”
“It was the attorney’s idea.” Claire’s gaze drifted to the TV, to Wade starring in one of his adventure comedies as a quick-witted detective—a movie she’d watched more times than she could count.
It was one of her favorites, partly because there wasn’t a love interest. That detail made it easier to enjoy his performance without the pang of jealousy that struck when she saw him kissing random actresses.
Claire flopped her head back and rubbed her eyes. “Wade agreed easily because he intends to manage everything from LA.” By marrying Wade, she might secure Bella’s future, but Claire would end her own chances of finding someone who loved her in return. “Rhett will be in town next month.”
The kind man owned the house next door.
“If Rhett ever asks you on a date, then we can consider him a contender.” Irina reached for a handful of popcorn.
“He wants to take me skiing.” He’d texted two days ago, but sidetracked by Bella, Claire hadn’t responded. Rhett had a stable job. An engineer from Chicago, he worked remotely during his visits to Pleasant View. “He’s only here for two months.”
“At least he comes three times a year.” Irina popped a kernel into her mouth. “But Wade will come often if you two get married.”
“I still can’t believe he had his assistant text me a bunch of rings two hours after such a heavy conversation.” Novi texted five pictures and requested Claire’s ring size.
“Can I see the rings?”
Claire nodded toward her phone on the table, its dark frame almost vanishing in the dim light. Irina picked it up and swiped past Claire’s unlocked screen. Her eyebrows drew together as she scrolled through the images.
“Oh my!” Irina’s eyes widened, the screen’s glow highlighting her astonishment. “These are stunning.”
Claire sighed and sank back into the sofa cushions. “They’re all beautiful, but none of this feels real, you know?”
“At least you get to pick a nice ring.” Irina flicked Claire with a knowing look. “I already spotted three that scream your style.”
Claire hadn’t done more than glance at them. “They are gorgeous.”
“And so is the man behind them.” Irina nudged Claire.
Claire tossed a handful of popcorn at her friend, who ducked, laughing. “Whose side are you on? This whole situation is already giving me a headache.”
“Girl, warm up to this marrying-Wade thing. The guy’s a movie star. His family is liked in town. He’s still the town heartthrob and your crush. You’re always showing me the latest gossip about girls clinging to his arm and whatnot.”
Irina’s lighthearted tease, probably an attempt to ease the tension, touched a sensitive chord. In her loneliness, Claire sometimes searched his name online, following the endless gossip linking him with beautiful women.
“And, let’s be honest, you could do worse.” Irina clicked the remote, and the movie started.
Just then, the phone rang.
“Here.” Irina fumbled the device into Claire’s hands.
Wade’s handsome face filled the screen, and Claire’s pulse quickened as she leaped from the sofa, the phone almost slipping to the hardwood floor.
“I thought you were still on a night out.” A hint of apology carried in his tone. “Didn’t realize… or do you just keep the house dark for a reason?”
“I…” Breathless, she flubbed her lines. But seriously?
He remembered she’d always been a night owl?
At least the darkened house hid her disheveled hair and the T-shirt with a vintage bike she wore—ironically, Wade’s shirt.
His background was blurred with lights and gym equipment.
Was he working out this late? Well, it wasn’t this late in LA.
She wandered into the kitchen, keeping the lights off, the shadows her sanctuary as she gathered her thoughts. “What’s up?”
“I made a few calls this afternoon.”
“I know.” The swift follow-up with the ring designs proved he’d been busy.
“Did you have time to look at the rings?” His smile was sheepish through the digital haze.
“Yeah.” Not exactly.
“I had to go through a bunch of rings to narrow it down to the five. I hope you—”
Whoa. Wait. “You chose the rings?”
Maybe he was invested in this, his intentions to help Bella pure.
Maybe Irina was right. Maybe this could work.
Maybe it could be the best thing that ever happened to Claire.
“I’m no designer like you.” Lightness carried in his voice, and her muscles relaxed.
“You… did good.”
“Forever Yours. Do you know it?” Wade gripped the back of his neck.
“On Main, yes.” She’d passed by the upscale bridal shop more times than she could count. The confections in the window always ignited a longing to be a bride.
“They’re expecting you. Stop by anytime for a fitting and choose a gown. And don’t worry about the price. I got it covered.”